“We are going to go through between 750 and 800 appointments today.”
Riverside Public Health Department spokesman Jose Arballo was at the forefront of vaccinating Riverside County vaccines. He was at the Indio Fairgrounds on Sunday, which has become one of the newest clinics to administer vaccines.
The clinic opened at 08:30 and would take place after 16:30
Hundreds of people showed up. Most people waited in line for more than an hour, despite an appointment.
“I feel wonderful, exciting!” says Palm Springs resident Marietta Perkins.
“I definitely do not want to get the covid, so I just had to get the vaccine,” La Quinta resident Dan Gibeau said.
Each person had their own reasons for showing up to receive the vaccine.
“I’m 73 years old. I was very, very careful. I haven’t seen my grandchildren or my children in almost a year. My mother-in-law is in an emergency room,” Palm Springs said. Austin Buffum.
Since the first phase of Phase 1B started last week, more people have come in to be vaccinated, even if it means waiting more than an hour in line.
Residents in phase 1B of phase 1B were given the chance to be vaccinated. The group included people aged 65 and over and selected essential workers, such as those who taught, child care, emergency services, food and agriculture.
Vaccinations are available to the following people who live or work in Riverside County:
- Acute care
- Skilled nursing and assistance facilities (medically vulnerable individuals)
- First Responders (paramedics / EMTs)
- Correctional hospitals
- Behavioral health (psychiatric)
- Dialysis centers (staff)
- Pharmacist and pharmacy staff
- Intermediate care facilities
- Education
- Law enforcement
- Home Health and IHSS
- Public Health (field) / DPSS
- Community Health Workers
- Primary care and community clinics
- Urgent care (stand alone)
- Specialist Clinics
- Laboratory workers
- Dental / Oral Health Clinics
- Ministries for funeral services
- Food and Agriculture
- Emergency services
“I would say the line is moving pretty well. It’s moving better than I actually expected,” Buffum said.
Lines around the Fullenwider Auditorium. Sunday’s weather was not very pleasant, with temperatures rising above 80 degrees.
“There are too many people for what they are trying to do. Why make appointments when you have to stand in line for hours to get in? I appreciate you having the vaccine, but it’s just poorly managed,” said David. White, a resident of La Quinta, said.
The province has stressed that people will be turned away if they show up at a clinic without an appointment.
“We find that the vast majority of people who make the appointments turn up,” Arballo said.
From Sunday evening, all the appointments were taken on the country’s website.
“With our appointments this week, we will be pretty little of what we have now,” Arballo said.
The province is waiting for another vaccine shipment to make more appointments available.
“We have kept a certain amount for clinics like this, but the vast majority of the vaccine grant is to our community partners – there are hospitals or clinics, other businesses or entities,” Arballo said.
Arballo said they hope to get more vaccines within the next few days.
Last week, the window opened to enable the next group of people to be vaccinated, only for health workers.